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[Storm442]

Hey gang,
Although I've been watching UFCs since almost the beginning, this year I'm really expanding my knowledge of the sport. Please bear with me as I become familiar with MMA.


It seems to me that in past years there would always be a couple of MMA guys who had "boxing" listed on their resumes, a few wrestlers, and some type of Muay Thai / Jiu Jitsu fighters.
Nowadays, it seems like 90% of the fighters I see are wrestlers or submission dudes.

QUESTION(S):
Why aren't there more boxers getting into MMA?
Is it because there's less pay than boxing or perhaps there's no interest from the boxing community ...


Who's some current (and good) MMA fighters that have a boxing background?


Thanks,
~Storm

[Afro]

god dammit this is gonna turn into another anti-boxing thread =/

there are quite a few guys with boxing skills in MMA

Rashad Evans, Chris Lytle, Jens Pulver, Vitor Belfort, Phil Baroni, etc etc

but MMA draws more muay thai and kickboxers then it does boxers, boxing pays a crap load more and its different then what you do in MMA, different community as well.

[kaisq11]

good question i think boxing and mma are two different sports. how idk

[Storm442]

Originally Posted by Afro Samurai

god dammit this is gonna turn into another anti-boxing thread =/

I hope not, this is NOT Sherdog !!
I asked the question becasue I really want to know, not to bash any type of fighting.

Thanks for listing the names, those are all great fighters.

[Clint]

I think it's largely because there is more money to be made in boxing and practically no money in Wrestling or Submission Grappling. So those guy go into MMA because it's the best choice to use their skills as a professional.

[shenku68]

I still think that a few boxers and boxing fans still view MMA as a brawl or barfight and that it does not require the techniques of the "sweet science".

MMA fighters use more than techniques, brawn or skill to win fights. They use intelligence and heart. MMA fighters actually have to have a broader range of skills than a boxer to be successful.

MMA is reaching the mainstream and opinions will change once it is seen that fighters use the all aspects of the game to win.

The main reason that boxers are not flocking to MMA is the money. Not enough in MMA yet to draw them in.

[Afro]

Originally Posted by shenku68

I still think that a few boxers and boxing fans still view MMA as a brawl or barfight and that it does not require the techniques of the "sweet science".

MMA fighters use the more than techniques, brawn or skill to win fights. They use intelligence and heart. MMA fighters actually have to have a broader range of skills than a boxer to be successful.

MMA is reaching the mainstream and opinions will change once it is seen that fighters use the all aspects of the game to win.

The main reason that boxers are not flocking to MMA is the money. Not enough in MMA yet to draw them in.

guys like Chris Leben dont really prove them wrong though

[shenku68]

Originally Posted by Afro Samurai

guys like Chris Leben dont really prove them wrong though

I agree with that, but you and I know that this (brawling) will be his downfall. Remember Tank vs Vitor? Tank was feared until Vitor showed his weakness. Tank has not changed much and continues to get beat.

[killerinstinct]

one dimensional boxers couldn't hang in mma.When it was a one dimensional boxer vs. a bjj guy or a one dimensional boxer vs. a one dimensional wrestler the boxer got dominated with a few exceptions.You could argue that there has never been an extremely successful boxer(in boxing) to join mma ,but if the greatest boxer in the world came into mma as a one dimensional fighter he wouldn't have that great of a career unless he cross trained.

[j.farrell]

have you ever looked at a boxers stance..they leave their lead leg out so they can move side to side and backwards...they plant there feet..so in mma when you plant your feet you end up on your head...i think also boxers train so hard for so long it might be a little harder to learn something new, than if you start out as a wrestler..learning how to throw a punch is alot easier than learning to defend a take down or a submission..im not saying a boxer cant learn. but i think they'd have a tough time...plus you know how sometimes when a wrestler ends up on his back in mma they freeze up??? some boxers might get knocked down and not think to protect themselves instinctively cuz they are used to getting a break when that happens..or alot of boxers get on all fours when they are trying to get back up...and thats rear naked choke time...